Life-raft.



M. SZUR.

LIFE RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1915.

1,169,299. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

rnvrrnp snares earner onrrcn.

MIKE SZUR, 033 ST. CATHERINES, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LIFE-RAFT.

Application filed October 15, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, MIKE Sztin, subject ofthe King of Hungary, residing at St. Catherines, in the Province ofOntario and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Life- Rafts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in liferafts.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a raft that isof light weight and adapted to be launched from the deck of a vessel forlife-saving purposes, the same being arranged for securing a personthereon in suitable position, for operating a steering raft.

A further object of the device is the provision of a life raftespecially adapted for a single occupant who may be safely securedthereon so as to manually propel the raft as well as to steer the same.

A still further obiect of the invention is to provide an individual liferaft adapted for the safe accommodation of a person in a recliningposition who may readily navigate thereon, the head end of the raftbeing slightly elevated.

With these general objects in view and others that will appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in whichlike-designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views :-F igure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe device. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figs. 3 and 4- arevertical transverse sectional views taken upon lines IIIHI and IV1Vrespectively.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the raft broadly consists of asubstantially rectangular frame 10 having cylindrical floats 11 at theopposite longitudinal edges thereof, the said floats having enlargedheads 12 at their adjacent ends and constituting the head end of theraft, the frame 10 at this end being slightly tapered, and the forwardends of the heads 12 being of conical formation.

A. canvas covering 13 is firmly secured Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1916.

Serial N0. 56,106.

upon the frame 10 and is provided with securing straps 141 for retaininga person thereon in a reclining position, loops 15 being arrangedadjacent the foot end or stern of the raft for the reception of the feetof the occupant. A head rest 16 is positioned at the head end or how ofthe raft being arranged slightly elevated upon a drum 17.

A shaft 1.8 is journaled longitudinally of the raft beneath the same andis provided with a stern propeller 19. A transverse operating shaft 20is also arranged beneath the raft having a pinion 21 centrally securedthereto and in constant mesh with a similar pinion 22 upon the forwardend of the propeller shaft 18. The opposite outer ends of the shaft 20are provided with operating cranks 23 and it will be evident that aperson positioned upon the raft may readily operate the crank 23 bymeans of his hands, thus actuating the propeller 19 and impartingmovement to the craft.

A U-shaped rudder 24 is provided at the stern of the raft substantiallyencircling the propeller 19 and is provided with a steering cross-piece25 having steering cords 26 attached thereto.

From this detailed description of the device it will be seen that whenthe raft is floating upon the water, the bow thereof will be slightlyelevated by reason of the enlarged floating heads 12 and the personlying upon the canvas 13 is secured in position by means of the straps14.- and loops 15 with his head mounted upon the head rest 16 and inwhich position the cranks 23 readilv be turned for operating thepropeller 19, while the cords 26 may be utilized for steering the raftas may be desired.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what isbelieved to be the preferred embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless tobe understood that minor changes may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the in ention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A device of the class described comprising asubstantiallv rectangular frame having a tapered head portion,cylindrical floats securedto the longitudinal edges of the said frameand having enlarged ends ad acent the said head portion, a rearpropeller, o ositely arranged operating cranks for the said propeller,an elevating head rest upon the said frame, a flexible covering for thesaid frame, and securing straps carried by the said frame above the saidcovering.

2. A life raft comprising a rectangular frame, tubular side floatscarried by the said frame, normally inclined when in floating positionand having enlarged heads at their forward ends terminating in conicalends projecting at the boW of the raft, a canvas covering for the saidframe, a head -ried by the frame and manually operated pronelling andsteering means carried by :the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa- 15 ture.

MIKE sZUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.

